bass guitar from “every breath you take” by the police | ToneDB
every breath you take
the police
bass guitar
Tone Profile
A clean and fundamental bass tone with subtle chorus and compression, providing a solid foundation for the song's haunting atmosphere. The sound is deep and round but retains clarity and punch.
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The Story
Sting's bass on "Every Breath You Take" was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat by producer/engineer Hugh Padgham. The tone was achieved using a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT amplifier, with the signal captured using both a direct input and a Neumann U47 microphone on the amp. A Roland Dimension D chorus unit was applied subtly to add width and depth, while compression helped maintain consistent low-end presence throughout the haunting ballad.
Production Credits
Producer: Hugh Padgham, The Police
Engineer: Hugh Padgham
Recorded at: AIR Studios, Montserrat
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb
Processing: Roland Dimension DShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Fender Precision Bass for its fundamental tone.
- Use an Ampeg SVT for a clean and powerful bass amp sound.
- Experiment with a Roland Dimension D or similar chorus effect, keeping the depth subtle.
- Apply compression to even out the bassline and add sustain.
- Blend a DI signal with the amp signal to capture both clarity and warmth.
Original Gear
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- Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb(guitar)
- Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb(amp)
- Neumann U47Shop on Reverb(mic)
- Roland Dimension DShop on Reverb(pedal)
- Urei 1176Shop on Reverb(compressor)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass
Modern version of the classic P-Bass with the same fundamental split-coil pickup tone that defines this track
Alternative to: Ampeg SVT
Modern SVT head that delivers the same clean, powerful tube-style bass tone at a more practical weight
Alternative to: Roland Dimension D
Faithful recreation of the Roland Dimension D circuit with the same subtle chorus and spatial enhancement
Alternative to: Urei 1176 Compressor
Accurate plugin emulation of the 1176 compressor used to even out bass dynamics on this recording
Alternative to: Direct Input Box
Professional DI box for capturing the clean bass signal to blend with the mic'd amplifier
Sources
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